Problem solving is central to learning mathematics. By learning to solve problems and by learning through problem solving, students are given numerous opportunities to connect mathematical ideas and to develop conceptual understanding.

Problem solving is considered an essential process through which students are able to achieve the expectations in mathematics curriculum in Ontario, for many reasons, including the following: problem solving increases opportunities for the use of critical thinking skills (estimating, evaluating, classifying, assuming, recognizing relationships, hypothesizing, offering opinions with reasons, and making judgements).

At-Home Activities:

Make your own problem solving game at home by following the easy steps below:

Find and cut out 20 pictures of people from magazines.Make sure the people in the pictures have items with them like glasses, hats and jewelry.

The pictures need to be large enough so that you can see the people's features, yet small enough so that they fit on standard index cards.

Glue the pictures on to the index cards.

Turn the cards face up.

One person chooses one of the people in their minds, and does not tell the other person.

The other person gets to ask "yes and no" questions like, "Does the person have blond hair?" or "Is the person wearing jewelry?" to try to figure out which picture was chosen.

Turn over the pictures that are eliminated by the questions. For example, if the person that was chosen does have blond hair, turn over the cards with the people who have different colour hair

Keep track of how many questions it took until the correct picture was chosen.